In September of 2007, my father and I took a trip to Hawaii to meet my little
brother, Lt. Commander Joseph Smotherman (Pilot, Shooter & V4 Division
Officer) at Pearl Harbor. Jody had been on deployment for 6 months in the
Persian Gulf aboard the USS Nimitz and was on his return voyage to San
Diego. We had the unique opportunity to travel with him aboard the ship on
their last leg home from Pearl Harbor to San Diego. The journey lasted for
6 days and the Captain & crew made the journey a once in a lifetime memory
for my father and I, as well as the other participants in this "Tiger
Cruise". The days were filled with everything from BBQ's to Air &
Sea Power demonstrations where live ammunition was dropped from F-18's just off
the side of the carrier! These are a few of the many
photos we took on board the USS Nimitz.